Attachment for penholders.



No. 865,036. I ,y PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907.

A. L. HATPIELD.

ATTAC NT FOR PBNHOLDERS.

, Pr 1011 FILED un. 13'. 1907.

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INVENTOR;

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ATTORNEYS NoI` 865,036.

PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907.

y A. L. HATPIELD. ATTACHMENT FOR PENHOLDERS.

APPLIOANOL( FILED APR. 13I 1907.

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WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. HATFIELD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ATTACHMENT FOR PENHOLDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Application filed April 13,1907. Serial No. 368.043.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. HATFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Penholders, and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings, and characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference, generally, to improvements in. pen-holders; and, the invention relates, more particularly, to a novel means or device which is adapted to be attached upon a pen-holder and is for the purpose of enabling the writer to hold the pen and penholder to the linger or hand at the proper angle for practical and correct use.

This invention, therefore, has for its principal 0bv jects to provide a novel, cheap andv simply constructed attachment or device for use with pen-holders which is provided with a means, preferably in the form of a ring adapted to be slipped upon theforefinger of the writer, all arranged for providing an adjustable and elastic holder for the nger, without discomfort and without interfering with the use of the pen and its holder, whereby the pen and pen-holder, when not in use, can be turned or rotated into a position directly over and above the finger, to enable the writer for the time being to take up and use a lead pencil; or, if desired, another holder and pen which has been dipped into a differently colored ink, thereby not only resulting in great convenience to the writer, but also being a time and labor-saver, and furthermore, being sanitary in its purposes as it prevents the possibility of the pen-holder being arranged behind the ear or being held in the mouth, while using a blotter, or another pen and holder, or a lead-pencil.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel device or attachment for pen-holders which serves as an educator in schools and the like for instruction in writing and the practical and correct use in holding the pen-holder between the fingers or in the hand at the proper angle.

Other objects of this invention are to provide an attachment of the general character hereinafter more fully set forth which is adjustable with relation to the pen-holder, as well as adjustable with relation to the use of its attachment for connecting the device to the finger of the writer, and, furthermore to provide a device which will not in the least interfere with the various movements of the fingers during the manipulation of the pen and its holder while forming the various writing characters upon paper.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

With the various objects of my present invention in view, the invention consists, primarily, in the novel attachment or device hereinafter more fully set forth; and for the purpose of properly holding a pen and penholder, and for other purposes, such as will hereinafter appear; and, this invention consists, furthermore, in the various novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which1- Figure 1 is a view of a hand and a perspective of a pen and pen-holder provided with the attachment which embodies the principles of the present invention, showing its use in connection with the holder. Fig. 2 is a top view of the attachment and a view of a portion of the pen-holder, said view being made on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, with the tubular portion or body which carries the ring or means for attaching the device upon the finger of the writer being also shown in longitudinal vertical section; and Fig. 3 is an end view of the attachment when removed from the holder. Fig. 4 is a side view of a slightly modified form of attachment. Figs. 5 and 6 are two longitudinal sectional representations, similar to the section shown in said Fig. 3, of two modified constructions of attachments, which, however, embody the principles of the present invention, said views also showing portions of a pen-holder. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional representation of still another modified attachment and a sectional representation of a portion of a pen-holder upon which said attachment is arranged; and Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-8 in said Fig. 7, said section being made on an enlarged scale. j

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said above described views, to indicate correspending parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference-character l indicates a suitable pen-holder and 2 the pen which is secured in the usual and ordinary manner upon the lower front end of the holder.

The attachment, which, embodies the principles of the present invention, comprises a suitably formed clamping or holding member 4, made of a resilient metal, and being longitudinally slitted, as at 5, so as to be readily forced upon and mounted and held in frictional engagement with the pen-holder 1, in a manner which will be clearly evident from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings, the said clamping or holding member or element being adjustably arranged upon the pen-holder, as may be required by the writer.

Extending in a longitudinal direction, and suitably mounted upon the upper surface of said clamping or holding member or element 4, by being soldered or otherwise secured thereto, is a tubular body or box 6, in the interior of which is arranged and suitably secured therein, the shank or end-portion 8 of a coiled spring or other suitable wire or bar 7. Extending from the opposite end of said coiled spring or other suitable wire or bar 7 is another shank or end-portion 9. In their normal initial positions the two shanks or end-portions 8 and 9 are arranged at an angle of about thirty degrees to each other, substantially as illustrated, which angular arrangement may, however, be varied, if desired. Rotatably arranged upon said shank or end-portion 8 is a tubular member or element 10, said member or element also being capable of a sliding movement upon said shank 9, and being retained thereon, against displacement, by means of the coiled portion 7 and an enlargement or head 11 upon the free end of said shank 9, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, or by means of a slightly bent end-portion, as 12, shown in said Fig. 4. Suitably connected with and projecting from one side of said tubular body or element 10 is a ring-shaped member or element 13, which is adapted to be slipped over and upon the fore-finger of the hand, and which is preferably provided with an open part or slit, as 14, so as to enable the two parts of the ring-shaped member or element which extend from the fastened part of said member to be opened out or brought in a close relation, to enable the said ringshaped member or element to be readily adjusted to and arranged upon a larger or smaller finger, as will be clearly evident. Having thus properly secured and arranged the attachment upon a pen-holder, and having slipped the ring-shaped element or member 13 upon the fore-finger of the hand, the pen and pen-holder are used in the usual manner, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, the attachment causing the pen-holder to be held against the finger or hand at the proper angle, so that the upper portion of the pen-holder will point in the proper angular direction toward the right shoulder of the writer.

The slidable arrangement of the shank or end-portion 9 within the tubular member or element 10 in a substantially horizontal plane, see Fig. 1 of the drawings, is preferable because, while writing, this action permits of the usual oscillatory or bending movements of the lower joint or joints of the foreinger, and the coiled portion 7, at the same time,permits of an oscillatory or vibratory motion of the parts 10, 9 and 13, in a vertical plane, with relation to the clamping or holding member or element 4 and the shank or endportion 8, which is essential to allow the writer to accommodate the iinger andthe pen in producing or writing the different characters, as will be clearly evident, and as will be clearly understood from an inspection more particularly of said Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will also be seen, that in addition to these horizontal and vertical movements, the holding or clamping body or element, the tubular body-or box 6 thereon, the shank or end-portion 8, and the coiled portion 7, all

have a rotary or eccentric movement about the tubular member or element 10, owing to the loose arrangement of the shank or end-portion 9 within said member or element 10, whereby the pen-holder and its pen can be brought in its inactive relation, indicated in the dotted outline in said Fig. 1, the position of the pen being reversed, substantially as shown, so that any ink still held by the pen will be retained upon the latter without any danger of blotting the paper or soiling the fingers.

The purpose of raising or moving the pen and penholder into the position shown in the dotted outline in said Fig. l, without removing the attachment from the nger, or the pen-holder from the attachment, is to enable the writer to quickly take up a lead-pencil, or a blotter, or another pen which has been dipped into a differently colored ink, and use the same in the ordinary manner without the least discomfort, the pen and pen-holder which is provided with the attachment being at' once ready for immediate use as soon as the lead-pencil or other pen and its holder are no longer required.

The advantages, as well as the simplicity of the construction of the device or attachment are clearly evident from the foregoing description of my present invention, and while the attachment is of benefit to book-keepers, and others, who are compelled to use more than one pen, or a lead-pencil for adding up columns of figures, a great convenience and saving in time is the result; and, the use of the device or attachment also has sanitary features, because it obviates the necessity of placing the pen-holder behind the ear or holding it in the mouth, as is now so often done by those constantly using a pen-holder and pen. Furthermore, as has been previously stated, it is a most useful attachment for the instruction of properly holding the pen and pen-holder to the finger or hand at the proper angle for'the practical and correct use while writing.

In lieu of the coiled portion or element 7 shown in said Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the two end-portions or shanks 8 and 9 maybe connected by means of a single curved member or portion 15, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, which serves the same purpose as the coil, but the use of the latter is preferable because it produces a greater spring-like action, so as to produce a more elastic or resilient attachment and holder for the linger or hand, while writing, and thus produces no inconvenient or tiring effects.

lf desired, I may use in place of the tubular member or element l0, an element 16 shown in said Fig. 5 of the drawings, said element being made in the form of a hollow cylinder -provided at its opposite ends with bearings 17 and 18 in which the shank 9 is slidably and rotatably mounted. The interior diameter of the cylinder 16 is much larger than the diameter of the shank 9, the latter being provided with an annular shoulder 19, and being encircled by a coiled spring 20 which has one of its ends resting against said shoulder 19 and has its other end resting against the inner face of one of the end-portions of said cylinder. The purpose of the spring is well understood, and the construction and actions of the remaining parts being the same as those previously set forth, this form of attachment need not be further described.

iIt" desired, the pivotal arrangement ot the parts may be reversed, as indicated in Fig. 6 ot the drawings. In this construction a spring-coil 21 is employed which is provided with two Shanks 22 and 23, the shank 22 extending entirely through the tubular portion of the member or element 6, and be rotatably arranged therein, as will be evident irom'an inspection oi said Fig. 5. The tree end-portion of said shank 22 which extends from the end of said member or element 6, as shown, is provided with a head or enlargement 24 which acts as a stop to limit the sliding movements ot the parts with relation to each other, and said enlargement or head preventing their accidental separation. The other shank 23 extends into a tubular portion 25 ot the member or element l() and is fixed therein by means of solder, or other suitable fastening means. The uses and operations of this form oi device or attachment is precisely the same as set forth in the hereinabove described constructions.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings is illustrated still another modified construction of attachment or device embodying the principles of the present invention. ln this construction, the holding or clamping member or element 4 is provided with an upwardly extending guide 26 formed with a pair of longitudinally extending ribs or shoulders 27 and 28, arranged to provide a longitudinally extending space between. The inner surface-portions of said ribs are undercut, as at 29, and movably retained between said ribs 27 and 28 is a correspondingly formed' slide or block 30, which is also provided with a receiving portion or socket 3l. Extending into and suitably secured in said receiving portion 3l', by means ot solder, or otherwise, is the shank or end-portion 33 ot a coil 32, the opposite shank or end-portion 34 ot said coil Aextending into and through the tubular element or member 10 of the construction and described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, and being rotatably arranged therein in the manner previously set forth. A head or enlargement 35 upon the tree end ot said shank 34 acts as a stop to limit its sliding movement, and also to prevent the withdrawal oi said shank from said member or element l0.

I claim:

1. In an attachment for pens and pen-holders for correctly holding the pen-holder in the hand, comprising a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen-holder, means for mounting the attachment upon the finger of the writer, and means for permitting the rotation of the pen-holder and said holding or clamping element, consisting of a tubular element on said holding or clamping element, a tubular element connected with said mounting means, and a pair of connected shanks, one of said shanks being permanently secured in one of the tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably arranged in the other tubular element, substantially as and for the purposes set forth,

2. In an attachment for pens and pen-holders for correctly holding the pen-holder in the hand, comprising a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen-holder, means for mounting the attachment upon the finger of the writer, and means for permitting the rotation of the penholder and said holding or clamping element, consisting 'of a tubular element on said holding or clampingelement, a tubular element connected with said mounting means, and a pair of connected shanks, one of said shanks beingr permanently secured in one of the tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably and slidably arranged in the other tubular element, and means forming a stop upon said slidably arranged shank to prevent its displacement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth,

3. In an attachment for pens and pen-holders for correctly holding the pen-holder in the hand, comprising a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen-holder, a ring-shaped holding member for mounting the attachment upon the uger ot' the writer, and means for permitting the rotation of the pen-holder and the holding or clamping element, consisting of a tubular element on said holding or clamping element, a tubular element connected with. said ring-shaped holding member, and a pair of connected Shanks, one of said Shanks being permanently secured in one of said tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably arranged in the other tubular element, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In an attachment for pens and pen-holders tor cor rectly holding the pen-holder in the hand, comprisingl a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen-holder, a ring-shaped holding member for mounting the attachment upon the finger ot the writer. and means for permittingl the rotation of the pen-holder and the holding or clamping element, consisting of a tubular element on said holding or clamping element, a tubular element connected with said ring-shaped holding member, and a pair of connected Shanks, one of said shanks boing permanently secured in one of said tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably and slidably arranged in the other tubular element, and means torming a stop upon said slidably arranged shank to prev'ent its displacement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

.3. In an attachment for pens and penholders tor correctly holding the pen-holder in the hand, comprisinga holding or clamping element provided with a longitudinally extending opening or slit so as to form clamping members for arranging said holding element upon the pen-holder, a ringshaped holding member for mounting ,the attachment upon the finger of the writer, said ringshaped member being formed with an open part or slit providing a pair of resilient holding portions, and means for permitting the rotation of the pen-holder and the holding or clampingelement, consistingo1 a tubular ele ment on said holding or clamping element, a tubular element connected with said ring-shaped holding member, and a pair of connected shanks, one of said shanks being permanently secured in one of said tubular elements and the other shank being loosely and rotatably arranged in the other tubular element, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In an attachment for .pens and penholders for correctly holding,r the pen-holder in the hand, comprising a holding or clamping element provided with a longitudinally extending opening or slit so as to form clamping member for arranging said holding element upon the penholder, a ring-shaped holding member for mounting the attachment upon the finger of the writer, said ring-shaped member being formed with an open or slit providing a pair, o-t` resilient holding portions, and means for permitting the rotation ot the pen-holder and the holding or clamping element, consisting ot' a tubular element on said holding or clamping element, a tubular element connected with said ring-shaped holding member, and a pair ot' connected shanks, one otl said shanks being permanently secured in one of said tubular elements and the other shank being loosely and rotatably and slidably arranged in the othertubular element, and means forming a stop upon said slidably arranged shank to prevent its displacement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an attachment for pens and pen-holders for correctly holding the pen-holder in the hand, comprising a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen-holder, u ring-shaped holding member for mounting the attachment upon the linger of the writer, and means for permitting the rotation ot the pen-holder and the holding or clamping element, consisting of a tubular element on said holding or clamping element, a tubular element connected with said ring-shaped holding member, a spring-coih'and a shank extending trom each end ot said coil, one of said shanks being permanently secured in one ol said tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably arranged in the other tubular element, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. ln an attachment for pens and pen-holders for correctly holding the pen-holder in the hand, comprising a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen-holder, a ring-shaped holding member for mounting the attachment upon the linger of the writer, and means for permitting the rotation of the pen-holder and the holding or clamping element, consisting ot a tubular element on said holding' or clamping element, a tubular element connected with said ring-shaped holding member, a spring-coil, and a shank extending from each end of said coil, one ol saidshanks being permanently secured in one ol said tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably and slidably arranged in the other tubular clement, and means forming a stop upon said slidably arranged shank to prevent its displacement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l). Au attachment for pens and pen-holders for the correct use of the penholder, comprising a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen^liolder, means i'or mounting said attachment upon the finger of the writer, means for permitting the rotation ot' said holding or clamping element, and means for producing a vibratory action of said holding or clamping element with relation to the mounting means, consisting ot' a tubular element on said holding or clamping element, a tubular element connected with said ring-shaped holding member, a springcoil, and a shank extending from each end ot' saidcoil, one ot said shanks being permanently secured in one of said tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably arranged in the other tubular element, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. An attachment for pens and penl1olders for the correct use of the pelrholder, comprising a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen-holder, means for mounting said attachment upon the finger of the writer, means for permitting the rotation of said holding or clamping element, and means for producing a vibratory action of said holding or clamping element with relation to the mounting means, consisting of a tubular element on said holdingor clamping element, a tubular element connected with said ring-shaped holding member, a spring-coil, and a shank extending from each end of said coil, one ot said shanks being permanently secured in one ot' said tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably and slidably arranged in the other tubular element, and means forming a stop upon said slidably arranged shank to prevent its displacement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 1

11. An attachment for pens and pen-holders for the correct use of the pen-holder, comprising a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen-holder, a ring-shaped holding member for mounting the attachment upon the `finger ot the writer, said ring-shaped member being formed with van open part or slit providing a pair of resilient holding portions, means for permitting the rotation of said holding or clamping element, and means for producing a vibratory action of said holding or clamping element with relation to the mounting means, consisting of a tubular element on said holding or clamping element, a tubular element connected with said ring-shaped holding member, a spring-coil, and a shank extending from each end ot said coil, one of said shanks being permanently secured in one of said tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably arranged in the other tubular element, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. An attachment for pens and pen-holders for the correct use of the pen-holder, comprising a holding or clamping element adapted to be arranged upon the pen-holder, a ring-shaped holding member for mounting the attachment upon the nger of the Writer, said ring-shaped member being formed with an open part or slit providing a pair of resilient holding portions, means for permitting the rotation of said holding or clamping element, and

means `for producing a vibratory action of said holding or clamping element with relation to the mounting means, consisting of a tubular element on said holding or clamping element, a tubular element connected With said ringshaped holding member, a spring-coil, and a shank extending from each end of said coil, one of said shanks being permanently secured in one of said tubular elements, and the other shank being loosely and rotatably and slidably arranged in the other tubular element, and means forming a stop upon said slidably arranged shank to prevent its displacement, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above kI have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of April,

ALBERT L. I-IATFIELD.

Witnesses z EMMA .T '.llTUs, EDWIN C. DUNN. 

